Bishop Maxim’s Archpastoral Visit to the Faithful in Seattle, WA

Created on Sunday, 28 September 2014 09:58

Seattle is in the top 5 rainiest U.S. cities by number of precipitations days, and it gets the least amount of annual sunlight of all major cities in the lower-48 states. This city experiences moderate to heavy rain during the months of November, December, and January. However, during this last Archpastoral visit of His Grace our Bishop Maxim to his humble flock and parishes dedicated to St. Sava and The Protection of the Holy Theotokos, we had a sunny and crisp weekend.

His Grace arrived to Seattle on Friday, September 26th, accompanied by our new Diocesan deacon Fr. Zoran Aleksic. They were greeted at the airport by Fr. Predrag Bojovic. After arriving at Fr. Predrag’s residence, His Grace and Deacon Zoran were greeted by Fr. Predrag’s family and then they all spent an evening in spiritually rewarding talks and enjoying a delicious dinner prepared by Presbytera Rada.

On Saturday morning, His Grace officiated the Divine Liturgy and celebrated the Feast of The Elevation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, at the local parish dedicated to the Protection of the Holy Theotokos, with a Eucharist that everyone in attendance will long remember. This parish’s priest, Fr. Seraphim Gascoine, along with altar boys and numerous pious parishioners, met the Bishop at the front doors and followed him into the church. His Grace moved from the crisp, sunny morning into a brightly lit church with the voices of a choir filling the air. After the Bishop’s vesting, His Grace presided over The Divine Liturgy concelebrated by Fr. Seraphim, Fr. Predrag Bojovic, Fr. Milan Unkovic (from Portland, OR), Deacon Zoran Aleksic and the blessed Synaxis of the faithful (around 50) of whom many communed in the Cup of Eternal Life.

Account of the Visit of Abbot Metodije to the Monastery of St. Paisius

Created on Thursday, 04 September 2014 19:05

Visit of His Grace Bishop Maxim with his honored guest, Abbot Metodije of Hilandar Monastery

With joy the sisterhood--headed by Abbess Michaila and the priests of the Monastery, Archimandrite Dorotheos and Protopriest David--awaited the arrival of His Grace and his honored guests at the pathway leading to the Catholicon. Before beginning the procession to the Catholicon, Abbot Metodije (at His Grace’s request) was clothed in a brightly colored mandiya, as is customary for those of his rank. Then began a formal procession into the Catholicon, and the Abbot and our Bishop ascended their thrones, where everyone came and received a blessing. A litany was offered, and the choir of sisters chanted the “Polychronion” to Abbot Metodije, who shared with the Sisters very moving words, about how the atmosphere of the monastery church was such a beautiful echo of the Holy Mountain, and how the Mother of God’s presence was so apparent.

Abbot Metodije visits Jackson

Diocesan Days 2014 and visit of Abbot Metodije of Hilandar

Created on Sunday, 31 August 2014 21:12

The theme for the eighteenth annual Diocesan Days gathering in the Western Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church in North and South America was The Holy Mountain, Hilandar, and Us. The celebration took place from Friday, August 29th through Sunday, August 31st, 2014 at St. Sava Mission and St. Sava parish in Jackson, California. The host of this most spiritually uplifting gathering was diocesan bishop, His Grace Kyr Maxim. The organizational aspect of the celebration was carried out by parishes from northern California, while Protopresbyter Steven Tumbas was chairman.